System and method for client policy assignment in a data storage system

ABSTRACT

A system and method for property assignment in a data storage system is presented. A data storage system defines a client configuration profile comprising a set of storage operation properties, wherein the storage operation properties regulate criteria for performing storage operations by the data agent on client devices that are associated with the client configuration profile. A storage management system associates a first client device to the client configuration profile; and communicates the set of properties of the client configuration profile to property tables of corresponding objects in the first client device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 16/922,817filed on Jul. 7, 2020, which is a continuation of application Ser. No.16/390,880, filed on Apr. 22, 2019, which is a continuation ofapplication Ser. No. 15/474,135, filed on Mar. 30, 2017, now U.S. Pat.No. 10,313,442, which is a continuation of application Ser. No.15/080,291, filed on Mar. 24, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,648,106, whichis a continuation of application Ser. No. 14/341,708, filed on Jul. 25,2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,323,446, which is a continuation ofapplication Ser. No. 13/095,751, filed on Apr. 27, 2011, now abandoned.Any and all applications for which a foreign or domestic priority claimis also identified in the Application Data Sheet, or any correctionthereto, are hereby incorporated by reference into this applicationunder 37 CFR 1.57.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention generally relates to data storage, and moreparticularly, some embodiments relate to systems and methods for policyassignment in data storage systems.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

The storage and retrieval of data is an age-old art that has evolved asmethods for processing and using data have evolved. In the early 18thcentury, Basile Bouchon is purported to have used a perforated paperloop to store patterns used for printing cloth. In the mechanical arts,similar technology in the form of punch cards and punch tape were alsoused in the 18th century in textile mills to control mechanized looms.Two centuries later, early computers also used punch cards and paperpunch tape to store data and to input programs.

However, punch cards were not the only storage mechanism available inthe mid 20th century. Drum memory was widely used in the 1950s and 1960swith capacities approaching about 10 kb, and the first hard drive wasdeveloped in the 1950s and is reported to have used 50 24-inch discs toachieve a total capacity of almost 5 MB. However, these were large andcostly systems and although punch cards were inconvenient, their lowercost contributed to their longevity as a viable alternative.

In 1980 the hard drive broke the 1 GB capacity mark with theintroduction of the IBM 3380, which could store more than two gigabytesof data. The IBM 3380, however, was about as large as a refrigerator,weighed ¼ ton, and cost in the range of approximately $97,000 to$142.000, depending on the features selected. This is in stark contrastto contemporary storage systems that provide for storage of hundreds ofterabytes of data or more for seemingly instantaneous access bynetworked devices. Even handheld electronic devices such as digitalcameras, MP3 players and others are capable of storing gigabytes ofdata, and today's desktop computers boast hundreds of gigabytes ofstorage capacity.

However, with the advent of networked computing, storage of electronicdata has migrated from the individual computer to network-accessiblestorage devices. These include, for example, optical libraries,Redundant Arrays of Inexpensive Disks (RAID), CD-ROM jukeboxes, drivepools and other mass storage technologies. These storage devices areaccessible to and can be shared by individual computers such as via aLocal Area Network (LAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), or a Storage AreaNetwork (SAN) to name a few. These client computers not only accesstheir own local storage devices but also storage devices of the networkto perform backups, transaction processing, file sharing, and otherstorage-related operations.

The large volumes of data often stored and shared by networked devicescan cause overloading of the limited network bandwidth. For example,during operations such as system backups, transaction processing, filecopying and transfer, and other similar operations, the communicationbandwidth of the network often becomes the rate determining factor.

In addition, even with large capacity storage systems, computingenterprises are being overloaded by vast amounts of data. Documents sentvia email, for example, can be copied and resent multiple times andseveral instances of the very same document might be stored many timesin many different locations. IT administrators are struggling to keep upwith the seemingly exponential increase in the volume of documents,media and other data. This problem is severely compounded by otherfactors such as the large file sizes often associated with multi-mediafiles, and file proliferation through email and other content sharingmechanisms. However, additional storage capacity requires capitalexpenditures, consumes power, takes up floor space and burdensadministrative overhead. Even with additional storage capacity, thesheer volume of data becomes a strain on backup and data recovery plans,leading to greater risk in data integrity.

As an alternative to simply increasing the amount of storage capacity,contemporary enterprises have turned to compression and other liketechnologies to reduce the volume of data. One such technology that canbe used is known as data deduplication. Data deduplication in itsvarious forms eliminates or reduces the amount of redundant data byimplementing policies that strive to reduce the quantity of, or eveneliminate instances of, redundant data blocks in storage. With datadeduplication, data is broken up into segments or blocks. As new dataenters the system, the segments are checked to see if they already existin storage. If a segment already exists, rather than store that segmentagain, a pointer to the location of the existing segment is stored.

Although deduplication has provided a more efficient utilization ofstorage space, the size of data storage systems has increased. With orwithout data deduplication, data storage installations tend to includemultiple storage nodes accessing large quantities of data storage.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

According to various embodiments, systems and methods are provided forpopulating a client device in a data storage system with specific clientstorage operation properties. Particularly, in some embodiments, amethod for populating a client device with specific client storageoperation properties is provided for a data storage system having astorage management system managing a plurality of client devices, theclient devices having a coupled data store and a data agent forperforming storage operations on its respective client device. In someembodiments, the method includes defining a client configuration profilecomprising a set of storage operation properties, wherein the storageoperation properties regulate criteria for performing storage operationsby the data agent on client devices that are associated with the clientconfiguration profile; the storage management system associating a firstclient device to the client configuration profile; and the storagemanagement system communicating the set of properties of the clientconfiguration profile to property tables of corresponding objects in thefirst client device.

In further embodiments, a computer program product is provided for usein a data storage system having a storage management system managing aplurality of client devices, the client devices having a coupled datastore and a data agent for performing storage operations on itsrespective client device, the computer program product comprising acomputer-readable storage medium having computer program code embodiedtherein for enabling a computing device to populate a client device withspecific client storage operation properties, the computer-readableprogram code configured to cause the computing device to perform theoperations of: defining a client configuration profile comprising a setof storage operation properties, wherein the storage operationproperties regulate criteria for performing storage operations by thedata agent on client devices that are associated with the clientconfiguration profile; the storage management system associating a firstclient device to the client configuration profile; and the storagemanagement system communicating the set of properties of the clientconfiguration profile to property tables of corresponding objects in thefirst client device.

In still further embodiments, a computing system is provided having aplurality of client data storage devices having a coupled data store anda data agent for performing storage operations on its respective clientdevice; and a storage management system managing the plurality of clientdata storage devices communicatively coupled to the plurality of datastorage nodes and comprising a processor and memory communicativelycoupled to the processor, the memory storing instructions to cause theprocessor to perform the operations of: defining a client configurationprofile comprising a set of storage operation properties, wherein thestorage operation properties regulate criteria for performing storageoperations by the data agent on client devices that are associated withthe client configuration profile; the storage management systemassociating a first client device to the client configuration profile;and the storage management system communicating the set of properties ofthe client configuration profile to property tables of correspondingobjects in the first client device.

The systems and methods described above can further include determiningthat a blob of data has moved from the first client device to a secondclient device; verifying whether the first client device is associatedwith the client configuration policy; and transferring the clientconfiguration policy to the second client device. Additionally, thestorage management system can be configured to perform the operations ofdetermining a set of client configuration policy properties and nativeproperties associated with the first device; and creating a new clientconfiguration policy based on a combination of the client configurationpolicy properties and native properties associated with the firstdevice.

In various embodiments, the storage operation properties can includestorage preferences or storage criteria according to which the dataagent perform storage operations and can be applied to storageoperations according to data type being operated upon. The data type canbe based on operating system type or application type, and can includeMicrosoft Exchange data, Lotus Notes data, Microsoft Windows file systemdata, Microsoft Active Directory data.

In yet other embodiments, the first client device is a member of apredefined group of a plurality of client devices, and the methodfurther includes associating the predefined group of client devices tothe client configuration profile and communicating the set of propertiesof the client configuration profile to property tables of correspondingobjects in the client devices of the predefined group. A client devicein the predefined group of a plurality of client devices can be furtherpopulated with native properties that are independent of the set ofproperties of the client configuration profile. The method can furtherinclude populating the first client device with additional propertiesthat arc independent of the set of properties of the clientconfiguration profile.

In one embodiment, the property table includes a list of propertiesassigned to the client device and identifies which of the assignedproperties are governed by the client configuration profile to which theclient device is associated. In various embodiments, a first property ofa client device includes a combination of native properties andproperties of the client configuration profile. Additionally, in someembodiments, if the first client device associated with the clientconfiguration profile contains an agent whose type is not currentlydefined for that client configuration profile, the properties for theclient are not governed by the client configuration profile.

In some applications, the first client device associated with the clientconfiguration profile is configured to include a mechanism to identifythat object as being part of a client configuration profile at Client,agent, instance, backupset, or sub-client entity levels. Other featuresand aspects of the invention will become apparent from the followingdetailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the features inaccordance with embodiments of the invention. The summary is notintended to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined solely bythe claims attached hereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention, in accordance with one or more variousembodiments, is described in detail with reference to the followingFigure. The drawings are provided for purposes of illustration only andmerely depict typical or example embodiments of the invention. Thesedrawings are provided to facilitate the reader's understanding of theinvention and shall not be considered limiting of the breadth, scope, orapplicability of the invention. It should be noted that for clarity andease of illustration these drawings are not necessarily made to scale.

FIG. 1 depicts examples of data storage algorithms and architecturesthat can be used in conjunction with the systems and methods describedherein.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example process for client storageoperation property propagation in accordance with one embodiment of thesystems and methods described herein.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example process for applying aclient configuration profile to a client in accordance with oneembodiment of the systems and methods described herein.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of an application of aclient configuration profile to a client in accordance with oneembodiment of the systems and methods described herein.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating another example process for propagatingpolicies to a client in accordance with one embodiment of the systemsand methods described herein.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example computing system with whichaspects of the systems and methods described herein can be implementedin accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

The Figures are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the inventionto the precise form disclosed. It should be understood that theinvention can be practiced with modification and alteration, and thatthe invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed toward a system and method forpopulating a client device in a data storage system with specific clientstorage operation properties. Before describing the invention in detail,it is useful to describe a few example environments with which theinvention can be implemented. The systems and methods described hereincan be implemented using a number of different storage architectures,with or without data deduplication. One such exemplary storagearchitecture is described with reference to FIG. 1 . The example storageoperation cell 50 shown in FIG. 2 may perform storage operations onelectronic data such as that in a computer network. As shown in thisexample, storage operation cell 50 may generally include a storagemanager 100, a data agent 95, a media agent 105, a storage device 115.The storage operation cell 50 may also include components such as aclient 85, a data or information store 90, databases 110 and 111, jobsagent 120, an interface module 125, a management agent 130. Each mediaagent 105 may control one or Input/Output devices such as Host BusAdaptor (HBA) or other communications link for transferring data fromclient 85 to storage devices 115 (depicted generally in FIG. 2 as HBAdevices 133). Such a system and elements thereof are exemplary of amodular backup system such as the CommVault QiNetix system, and also theCommVault GALAXY backup system, available from CommVault Systems, Inc.of Oceanport, N.J., and further described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,035,880and 7,620,710 each of which is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety.

A storage operation cell, such as cell 50, may generally includecombinations of hardware and software components associated withperforming storage operations on electronic data. Exemplary storageoperation cells according to embodiments of the invention may include,as further described herein, CommCells as embodied in the QNet storagemanagement system and the QiNetix storage management system by CommVaultSystems of Oceanport, N.J. According to some embodiments of theinvention, storage operation cell 50 may be related to backup cells andprovide some or all of the functionality of backup cells as described inU.S. Pat. No. 7,395,282, which is also incorporated by reference herein.However, in certain embodiments, storage operation cells may alsoperform additional types of storage operations and other types ofstorage management functions that are not generally offered by backupcells.

In accordance with certain embodiments additional storage operationsperformed by storage operation cells may include creating, storing,retrieving, and migrating primary data copies and secondary data copies(which may include, for example, snapshot copies, backup copies,Hierarchical Storage Management (HSM) copies, archive copies, and othertypes of copies of electronic data). In some embodiments, storageoperation cells may also provide one or more integrated managementconsoles for users or system processes to interface with in order toperform certain storage operations on electronic data as furtherdescribed herein. Such integrated management consoles may be displayedat a central control facility or several similar consoles distributedthroughout multiple network locations to provide global orgeographically specific network data storage information.

In some embodiments, storage operations may be performed according to astorage policy. A storage policy is generally a data structure or otherinformation source that includes a set of preferences and other storagecriteria for performing a storage operation. The preferences and storagecriteria may include, but are not limited to, a storage location,relationships between system components, network pathway to utilize,retention policies, data characteristics, compression or encryptionrequirements, preferred system components to utilize in a storageoperation, and other criteria relating to a storage operation. Thus, astorage policy may indicate that certain data is to be stored in aspecific storage device, retained for a specified period of time beforebeing aged to another tier of secondary storage, copied to secondarystorage using a specified number of streams, etc. A storage policy maybe stored to a storage manager database 111, to archive media asmetadata for use in restore operations or other storage operations, orto other locations or components of the system.

A schedule policy can be used to specify when to perform storageoperations and how often and may also specify performing certain storageoperations on sub-clients of data and how to treat those sub-clients. Asub-client may represent static or dynamic associations of portions ofdata of a volume and are typically mutually exclusive. Thus, a portionof data may be given a label and the association is stored as a staticentity in an index, database or other storage location used by thesystem. Sub-clients may also be used as an effective administrativescheme of organizing data according to data type, department within theenterprise, storage preferences, etc. For example, an administrator mayfind it preferable to separate e-mail data from financial data using twodifferent sub-clients having different storage preferences, retentioncriteria, etc. Storage operation cells may contain not only physicaldevices, but also may represent logical concepts, organizations, andhierarchies. For example, a first storage operation cell 50 may beconfigured to perform HSM operations, such as data backup or other typesof data migration, and may include a variety of physical componentsincluding a storage manager 100 (or management agent 130), a media agent105, a client component 85, and other components as described herein. Asecond storage operation cell 50 may contain the same or similarphysical components, however, it may be configured to perform StorageResource Management (SRM) operations, such as monitoring a primary datacopy or performing other known SRM operations.

Thus, as can be seen from the above, although the first and secondstorage operation cells are logically distinct entities configured toperform different management functions (e.g., HSM and SRM respectively),each cell may contain the same or similar physical devices in bothstorage operation cells. Alternatively, in other embodiments, differentstorage operation cells may contain some of the same physical devicesand not others. For example, a storage operation cell 50 configured toperform SRM tasks may contain a media agent 105, client 85, or othernetwork device connected to a primary storage volume, while a storageoperation cell 50 configured to perform HSM tasks may instead include amedia agent 105, client 85, or other network device connected to asecondary storage volume and not contain the elements or componentsassociated with and including the primary storage volume. These twocells, however, may each include a different storage manager 100 thatcoordinates storage operations via the same media agents 105 and storagedevices 115. This “overlapping” configuration allows storage resourcesto be accessed by more than one storage manager 100 such that multiplepaths exist to each storage device 115 facilitating failover, loadbalancing and promoting robust data access via alternative routes.

Alternatively, in some embodiments, the same storage manager 100 maycontrol two or more cells 50 (whether or not each storage cell 50 hasits own dedicated storage manager 100). Moreover, in certainembodiments, the extent or type of overlap may be user-defined (througha control console (not shown)) or may be automatically configured tooptimize data storage and/or retrieval.

Data agent 95 may be a software module or part of a software module thatIS generally responsible for archiving, migrating, and recovering datafrom client computer 85 stored in an information store 90 or othermemory location. Each client computer 85 may have at least one dataagent 95 and the system can support multiple client computers 85. Insome embodiments, data agents 95 may be distributed between client 85and storage manager 100 (and any other intermediate components (notshown)) or may be deployed from a remote location or its functionsapproximated by a remote process that performs some or all of thefunctions of data agent 95.

Generally speaking, storage manager 100 may be a module that coordinatesand controls storage operations performed by storage operation cell 50.Storage manager 100 may communicate with some or all elements of storageoperation cell 50 including client computers 85, data agents 95, mediaagents 105, and storage devices 115, to initiate and manage systembackups, migrations, and data recovery.

Storage manager 100 may include a jobs agent 120 that monitors thestatus of some or all storage operations previously performed, currentlybeing performed, or scheduled to be performed by storage operation cell50. Jobs agent 120 may be communicatively coupled with an interfacemodule 125. Interface module 125 may include information processing anddisplay software, such as a graphical user interface “GUI,” anapplication program interface “API,” or other interactive interfacethrough which users and system processes can retrieve information aboutthe status of storage operations. Through interface module 125, usersmay issue instructions to various storage operation cells 50 regardingperformance of the storage operations as described. For example, a usermay employ the GUI to view the status of pending storage operations insome or all of the storage operation cells in a given network or tomonitor the status of certain components in a particular storageoperation cell (e.g., the amount of storage capacity left in aparticular storage device).

Storage manager module 100 may also include a management agent 130 thatis typically implemented as a software module or application program. Ingeneral, management agent 130 provides an interface that allows variousmanagement components 100 in other storage operation cells 50 tocommunicate with one another. For example, assume a certain networkconfiguration includes multiple cells 50 adjacent to one another orotherwise logically related in a WAN or LAN configuration (not shown).With this arrangement, each cell 50 may be connected to the otherthrough each respective interface module 125. This allows each cell 50to send and receive certain pertinent information from other cells 50including status information, routing information, information regardingcapacity and utilization, etc. These communication paths may also beused to convey information and instructions regarding storageoperations.

For example, a management agent 130 in first storage operation cell 50may communicate with a management agent 130 in a second storageoperation cell 50 regarding the status of storage operations in thesecond storage operation cell. Another illustrative example includes thecase where a management agent 130 in first storage operation cell 50communicates with a management agent 130 in a second storage operationcell to control the storage manager 100 (and other components) of thesecond storage operation cell via the management agent 130 contained inthe storage manager 100.

Another illustrative example is the case where management agent 130 inthe first storage operation cell 50 communicates directly with andcontrols the components in the second storage management cell 50 andbypasses the storage manager 100 in the second storage management cell.If desired, storage operation cells 50 can also be organizedhierarchically such that hierarchically superior cells control or passinformation to hierarchically subordinate cells or vice versa.

Storage manager 100 may also maintain an index cache, a database, orother data structure (not pictured) that can be stored in storagemanager database III or elsewhere. This data structure may be used toindicate logical associations between components of the system, userpreferences, management tasks, some SRM or HSM data or other usefuldata. As further described herein, some of this information may bestored in a media agent database 110 or other local data store accordingto some embodiments. For example, the storage manager 100 may use datafrom database 111 to track logical associations between media agents 105and storage devices 115.

A media agent 105 may be implemented as a module that conveys data, asdirected by storage manager 100, between a client computer 85 and one ormore storage devices 115 such as a tape library, a magnetic mediastorage device, an optical media storage device, or any other suitablestorage device. In one embodiment, media agents 105 may becommunicatively coupled with and control a storage device 115 associatedwith that particular media agent. A media agent 105 may be considered tobe associated with a particular storage device 115 if that media agent105 is capable of routing and storing data to a particular storagedevice 115 via one or more communication links such as HBA links 133.

Each HBA link 133 may include multiple HBA communication paths that areassociated with one or more media agents 105. HBA link 133 may alsocommunicate data from clients 85 under the supervision of media agents105 to storage devices 115 via BBA communication paths 116, whereby eachHBA link 133 may provide multiple HBA communication paths 116 betweeneach of media agents 105 and storage devices 115. In some embodiments,HBA link 133 may be part of or associated with a storage area network“SAN”) and used by various resources with storage management cell 50 totransfer data to storage devices 115. Various exemplary embodimentsassociated with the connectivity and communication between media agentsare described in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 7,620,710.

Each media agent 105 may maintain an index cache, a database, or otherdata structure which stores index data generated during backup,migration, and restore and other storage operations as described herein.For example, performing storage operations on Microsoft Exchange datamay generate index data. Such index data provides a media agent 105 orother external device with a fast and efficient mechanism for locatingdata stored or backed up. This data can be stored, for example, indatabase 110.

Thus, in some embodiments, a storage manager database 111 may store dataassociating a client computer 85 with one or more media agent(s) 105,HBA link 133, and storage device(s) 115, for example, as specified in astorage policy. Media agent database 110 may include information thatindicate specifically where client data is stored in storage device 115,what specific files were stored, and other information associated withstorage and retrieval of data from client computer 85. In someembodiments, such index data may be stored along with the data copied toa storage device 115, with an additional copy of the index data writtento index cache 110. The data in index cache 110 is thus generallyreadily available for use in storage operations and other activitieswithout having to be first retrieved from the storage device 115.

In some embodiments, certain components may reside and execute on thesame computer. For example, certain components may execute on a clientcomputer 85 such as a data agent 95, a media agent 105, or a storagemanager 100 which may coordinate and direct local archiving, migration,and retrieval application functions as further described in U.S. Pat.No. 7,035,880. This client computer 85 may function independently ortogether with other similar client computers 85.

FIG. 1 depicts examples of data storage algorithms and architecturesthat can be used in conjunction with the systems and methods describedherein. For ease of description and to provide contextual foundation,embodiments are described herein in terms of these examples. As would beapparent to one of ordinary skill in the art after reading thisdescription, embodiments can be implemented using these and otherdeduplication algorithms and architectures.

With various storage architectures a data center may be provided thatincludes multiple cells 50 or multiple clients 85 for a given cell 50for data storage operations. As noted above in the example of FIG. 1 ,there can also be a plurality of sub-clients and agents for a datacenter. Various policies, such as storage policies and schedule policies(examples of which are also described above) are typically provided toset properties for or govern the operations of data storage entitiessuch as clients, sub-clients and agents. With conventional systems,custom policies are created for each entity individually as needed orupon creation of the client. According to various embodiments of thesystems and methods described herein, one or more client configurationprofiles are created for a plurality of data storage entities. Theclient configuration profiles can comprise a template or client modelthat defines client properties such as, for example, client storageoperation properties. Storage operation properties can include, forexample, storage preferences or storage criteria such as schedulepolicies and storage policies. These client configuration profiles arcapplied to clients and client entities so that individual preferences orpolicies do not need to be created each time an entity (e.g., a client,sub-client or agent) is created or updated. According to another aspect,the templates can be updated from time to time and propagated to thedata storage entities to update the features, characteristics oroperation of the entities. Accordingly, some or all properties can bedefined for groups of clients, sub-clients and agents once andpropagated to those entities for application.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example process for client storageoperation property propagation in accordance with one embodiment of thesystems and methods described herein. At operation 217 one or moreclient profiles are created. Various client configuration profiletemplates can be created to identify properties or sets o(properties forclients, sub-clients and agents. In one embodiment, the profiles can becreated as client models that contain policy or preference informationfor a client to which is applied. The model can be created to look andfeel like a regular client, except that the client model includespolicies or settings information and does not operate like a regularclient in the data storage system. Profiles in the model can includeclient property policies that govern client operations such as schedulepolicies and storage policies. A storage policy is generally a datastructure or other information source that includes a set of preferencesand other storage criteria for performing a storage operation. A storagepolicy is used to govern storage operations such as, for example, whereto back up data, whether to perform deduplication, how long to retaindata, and so on. A schedule policy, for example, can be used to specifywhen to perform storage operations. Examples include when to performstorage operations, how often to perform storage operations; where toback up data, when to do pruning operations and so on. Policies may alsospecify performing certain storage operations on sub-clients of data andhow to treat those sub-clients.

At operation 219, when a user desires to bring up a new client for adata storage center, the user installs a new client. At install time,the system in this example is configured to query the user regarding theapplication of one or more client configuration profiles to the newclient being installed. This is shown at operation 221. Where aplurality of different client configuration profiles are available,profile parameters, features and settings can be displayed to the userto facilitate selection from among the multiple client configurationprofiles. The parameters, features and settings can also be displayedwhen only one client configuration profile is available to allow theuser to determine whether to apply that client configuration profile andits policies to the new client.

At operation 223, the user chooses a client configuration profile andassigns it to the client. The installation of the client is completed,and the client is brought on-line in the data storage system. The datastorage system is operated with the new client as shown at 225. Ifduring operation or at some point after installation a model changes,those changes are propagated to all the clients to which that model wasassigned. This is illustrated at 227 and 229.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example process for applying aclient configuration profile to a client in accordance with oneembodiment of the systems and methods described herein. At operation 242a new client is created for a data storage environment. The createdclient in one embodiment is simply a client shell without settings thatare governed by policies from policy profiles or models. For example,the client may have a basic exchange agent, file system and SQL agent,but might not have client properties regarding data storagerequirements, pruning, backup, and so on. At install time, the systemdetermines what client configuration profiles are available for thatclient as shown at 245. The installer may have different clientconfiguration profile from which to choose and can make a selectionbased on factors such as, for example, performance and operationalcriteria specified for the client.

At operation 247, the installer reviews the available clientconfiguration profiles against the client criteria and chooses one ormore templates to associate with the client. In another embodiment, oneor more templates can be automatically assigned to the client withoutinstaller action. The installer can be given the opportunity to modifyor update assigned client configuration profiles. Then, at operation250, the assigned client configuration profiles are applied to theclient. At operation 252 the policies of the client can be modified. Inone embodiment, the policy modifications can apply additional policiesto the client—i.e., policies that are not part of the assigned clientconfiguration profiles. In another embodiment, the policy modificationscan be changes to the policies that are in an existing templateinstalled on the client.

In some embodiments, policies and preferences contained in a clientconfiguration profile or specified by a client configuration profile canbe applied to various subsystems in a client. As noted above, policiespropagated to a client through the use of the client configurationprofile can also be propagated to sub-clients or agents of that client.Accordingly, a client configuration profile can have policies orpreferences for client operation in general or that are unique to one ormore sub-clients or agents that are part of that client. For the clientsand at each property level there can be a mix of properties determinedby both the template and those defined specifically for that object.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of an application of aclient configuration profile to a client in accordance with oneembodiment of the systems and methods described herein. In the exampleillustrated in FIG. 4 , an example client 85 is illustrated as having anexchange agent 263, a file system 264 and a SQL agent 265. This examplealso illustrates a client configuration profile having templatepreferences 142 applied to client 85. However, in this example, policiesor preferences specified by template preferences 142 are used to governthe operation of exchange agent 263 and file system 264. Templatepreferences 142 does not affect SQL agent 265. As further illustrated inthis example, template policies or preferences 266 govern the operationof exchange agent 263 and template policies or preferences 267 governthe operation of file system 264. Unique preferences 268, which are notpart of template 142, govern the operation of SQL agent 265. Althoughnot illustrated, additional policies or preference can be applied to theexchange agent 263 and SQL agent 264 in addition to those found intemplate 142. As this example illustrates, SQL agent 265 can be assignedpolicies 268 that are unique to SQL agent 265 in client 85.Statistically, a situation can arise in which unique preferences 268 arethe same as those applied to a different client, however the uniquepreferences are not applied as part of a template process to multipleclients. In contrast, template preferences 266, 267 are the same asthose applied to other clients using template 142. Accordingly, theseare applied uniformly across client 85 to which template 142 isassigned. In some embodiments, these can be modified or changed for oneclient independent of the other clients that the application of thetemplate can remain uniform across all clients.

Although the template policies and preferences 266, 267 are illustratedas being found within a single template 142 in this example, templatepreferences 266, 267 can be included in separate templates, or subsetsof preferences 266 or preferences 267 can be included in differenttemplates. Accordingly, multiple templates can be applied to a givenclient each having preferences that affect various operations of theclient. Additionally, a configuration policy can apply to entire client,but template can include any number of policies that might apply toparticular agents were a given number of agents. In such configurations,a client applies the policies or properties that are applicable to theclient configuration. For example, even in a situation where a templatemay support a larger number of agents than are found in a given client,the client will use those policies for the agents that the client has.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating another example process for propagatingpolicies to a client in accordance with one embodiment of the systemsand methods described herein. Referring now to FIG. 5 , at operation 305new client is created for the data storage environment. This operationcan be similar to, for example, operation 242 of FIG. 3 . At operation307, the system determines what policies are available for the client.More particularly, in terms of the examples described above, the systemdetermines whether there are any client configuration profiles that canbe applied to the client. At operation 310, available clientconfiguration profiles are communicated to the user setting up theclient for example, in one embodiment, a list of available clientconfiguration profiles is displayed to the user on the system GUI. Asnoted above, in some embodiments, a client configuration profile can beconfigured as a model client that appears to the user as a regularclient but that includes the client configuration profile policiesgoverning operation of the client. In various embodiments, the systemcan provide additional information to the user indicating policiescontained in a client configuration profile. Accordingly, the user candetermine an appropriate client configuration profile that matches thedesired performance characteristics or requirements of the client beinginstalled. Likewise, the client configuration profiles can be named tofacilitate speedier recognition. As also noted above, in otherembodiments, the system may automatically associate a template to aclient without user input.

Accordingly, if a client configuration profile is associated with aclient, the policies in that template arc propagated to the client andapplied. This is illustrated at operation 312, 315 and 318.

In some embodiments, the system can be configured such that sub-clientsand agents on a client machine and character properties of a clientconfiguration profile assigned to their respective client. This isillustrated at operation 320. Additional properties are policies may beneeded or desired for the new client. Accordingly, at operation 323these two properties are created as part of the client installationprocess. In some embodiments, these changes or additional preferencescan be added to the client configuration profile, allowing the clientconfiguration profile to be updated. In other embodiments, a client andits existing preferences can be merged with a client configurationprofile to add additional features to the client. Priority assigned toexisting client features and client configuration profile features suchthat conflicts can be resolved between the two. For example, where agiven policy of a client configuration profile conflicts with a policyalready on an existing client, the relative priority designation betweenthe two can dictate which policy is applied to the client. In oneembodiment for most properties, client configuration profile propertiesgiven priority over native client properties. For some properties, likeoperational windows, the operational windows for the entity is definedas the sum of both the client configuration profile and nativeproperties. Other properties that will be handled this way need to bedetermined.

If a client that is part of a client configuration profile contains anagent whose type is not currently defined for that client configurationprofile, the properties for the client are not governed by the clientconfiguration profile. In other words, the default values for propertiesof a given type won't be used for these agents until the agent type ismade part of the client configuration profile. Methods are provided ateach entity level (Client, agent, instance, backupset, sub-client, etc.)to identify that object as being part of a client configuration profile.

In some embodiments, client configuration profiles are protected fromalteration or modifications are made to a given client. This can be usedto protect the integrity of a client configuration profile such that itis uniformly and consistently applied across all client machines.Accordingly, the system can be configured to allow modifications topolicies or preferences applied to machine to ensure that thosealterations are client specific and not propagated to the clientconfiguration profile. Warnings can be provided to the user attemptingto modify policies contained in the client configuration profileindicating that the operations are not permitted or indicating that theoperations will break the link between the client and the clientconfiguration profile. In some embodiments, where the link is brokenbetween the client and the template, authorized template updates willnot be propagated to the client but will be propagated to other clientsthat are still linked to the template.

In one embodiment, CPP objects and their properties can be defined usingappManger tables and identified as such by setting a new “CV_STATUS_CCP”flag in the appropriate object tables: App_client, App_idaName,App_instanceName. App_backupSetName and App_subClientProp. An additionalcolumn in each of these tables (except app_client) may be used tofacilitate maintenance of the client configuration profile. Anadditional table, API_CCPStatic table lists all properties, chksums,entity levels as well as whether or not the property is subject to“Point In Time”. The primary purpose of this table is to identify whichproperties are potentially governed by a client configuration profile.

In one embodiment, when clients are associated to a client configurationprofile, all the properties of the client configuration profile arepushed (copied) to the property tables of the corresponding objects inthe client. The property tables contain two columns to accommodate theclient configuration profile properties. An ID column contains thecomponent name of the object from which the property came. This columncontains “0” for properties not from the client configuration profile.The second column is used to determine what properties need to beupdated whenever they are modified on the client configuration profile.Properties modified in the client configuration profile are pushed inbulk into the associated objects by a stored procedure call after allthe properties are flushed to the appropriate client configurationprofile property tables. For example, properties are pushed in bulk whenan appropriate stored procedure is called in the appropriate GUI Servermethod after all the properties are modified. An application managercall determines whether or not the property is associated with a clientconfiguration profile and decides whether or not to call the storedprocedure that will “push” the properties to the appropriate entities.In some embodiments, two database operations are used; one to updateexisting rows and the other to do inserts. Two operations are used tosatisfy the aging requirements of point-in-time properties.

In another embodiment, data stored by a client can be flagged withtemplate information so that a template can be associated not only witha client, but also with its data. Accordingly, if the data is reloadedonto a new machine, for example, the machine can be updated with thetemplate information associated with that data. As a further example, ifa full backup is made and a client restored using the backup data,template preferences for that data can automatically be associated withthe client when the backup data is loaded.

As used herein, the term module might describe a given unit offunctionality that will be performed in accordance with one or moreembodiments of the present invention. As used herein, a module might beimplemented utilizing any form of hardware, software, or a combinationthereof. For example, one or more processors, controllers, ASICs, PLAs,logical components, software routines or other mechanisms might beimplemented to make up a module. In implementation, the various modulesdescribed herein might be implemented as discrete modules or thefunctions and features described can be shared in part or in total amongone or more modules. In other words, as would be apparent to one ofordinary skill in the art after reading this description, the variousfeatures and functionality described herein may be implemented in anygiven application and can be implemented in one or more separate orshared modules in various combinations and permutations. Even thoughvarious features or elements of functionality may be individuallydescribed or claimed as separate modules, one of ordinary skill in theart will understand that these features and functionality can be sharedamong one or more common software and hardware elements, and suchdescription shall not require or imply that separate hardware orsoftware components are used to implement such features orfunctionality.

Where components or modules of the invention are implemented in whole orin part using software, in one embodiment, these software elements canbe implemented to operate with a computing or processing module capableof carrying out the functionality described with respect thereto. Onesuch example-computing module is shown in FIG. 6 . Various embodimentsare described in terms of this example computing module 500. Afterreading this description, it will become apparent to a person skilled inthe relevant art how to implement the invention using other computingmodules or architectures.

Referring now to FIG. 6 , computing module 500 may represent, forexample, computing or processing capabilities found within desktop,laptop and notebook computers; hand-held computing devices (PDA's, smartphones, cell phones, palmtops, etc.); mainframes, supercomputers,workstations or servers; or any other type of special purpose orgeneral-purpose computing devices as may be desirable or appropriate fora given application or environment. Computing module 500 might alsorepresent computing capabilities embedded within or otherwise availableto a given device. For example, a computing module might be found inother electronic devices such as, for example, digital cameras,navigation systems, cellular telephones, portable computing devices,modems, routers, WAPs, terminals and other electronic devices that mightinclude some form of processing capability.

Computing module 500 might include, for example, one or more processors,controllers, control modules, or other processing devices, such as aprocessor 504. Processor 504 might be implemented using ageneral-purpose or special-purpose processing engine such as, forexample, a microprocessor, controller, or other control logic. In theexample illustrated in FIG. 6 , processor 504 is connected to a bus 502,although any communication medium can be used to facilitate interactionwith other components of computing module 500 or to communicateexternally.

Computing module 500 might also include one or more memory modules,simply referred to herein as main memory 508. For example, preferablyrandom access memory (RAM) or other dynamic memory might be used forstoring information and instructions to be executed by processor 504.Main memory 508 might also be used for storing temporary variables orother intermediate information during execution of instructions to beexecuted by processor 504. Computing module 500 might likewise include aread only memory (“ROM”) or other static storage device coupled to bus502 for storing static information and instructions for processor 504.

The computing module 500 might also include one or more various forms ofinformation storage mechanism 510, which might include, for example, amedia drive 512 and a storage unit interface 520. The media drive 512might include a drive or other mechanism to support fixed or removablestorage media 514. For example, a hard disk drive, a floppy disk drive,a magnetic tape drive, an optical disk drive, a CD or DVD drive (R orRW), or other removable or fixed media drive might be provided.Accordingly, storage media 514, might include, for example, a hard disk,a floppy disk, magnetic tape, cartridge, optical disk, a CD or DVD, orother fixed or removable medium that is read by, written to or accessedby media drive 512. As these examples illustrate, the storage media 514can include a computer usable storage medium having stored thereincomputer software or data.

In alternative embodiments, information storage mechanism 510 mightinclude other similar instrumentalities for allowing computer programsor other instructions or data to be loaded into computing module 500.Such instrumentalities might include, for example, a fixed or removablestorage unit 522 and an interface 520. Examples of such storage units522 and interfaces 520 can include a program cartridge and cartridgeinterface, a removable memory (for′ example, a flash memory or otherremovable memory module) and memory slot, a PCMCIA slot and card, andother fixed or removable storage units 522 and interfaces 520 that allowsoftware and data to be transferred from the storage unit 522 tocomputing module 500.

Computing module 500 might also include a communications interface 524.Communications interface 524 might be used to allow software and data tobe transferred between computing module 500 and external devices.Examples of communications interface 524 might include a modem orsoftmodem, a network interface (such as an Ethernet, network interfacecard, WiMedia, IEEE 802:XX or other interface), a communications port(such as for example, a USB port, IR port, RS232 port Bluetooth®interface, or other port), or other communications interface. Softwareand data transferred via communications interface 524 might typically becarried on signals, which can be electronic, electromagnetic (whichincludes optical) or other signals capable of being exchanged by a givencommunications interface 524. These signals might be provided tocommunications interface 524 via a channel 528. This channel 528 mightcarry signals and might be implemented using a wired or wirelesscommunication medium. These signals can deliver the software and datafrom memory or other storage medium in one computing system to memory orother storage medium in computing system 500. Some examples of a channelmight include a phone line, a cellular link, an RF link, an opticallink, a network interface, a local or wide area network, and other wiredor wireless communications channels.

In this document, the terms “computer program medium” and “computerusable medium” are used to generally refer to physical storage mediasuch as, for example, memory 508, storage unit 520, and media 514. Theseand other various forms of computer program media or computer usablemedia may be involved in storing one or more sequences of one or moreinstructions to a processing device for execution. Such instructionsembodied on the medium, are generally referred to as “computer programcode” or a “computer program product” (which may be grouped in the formof computer programs or other groupings). When executed, suchinstructions might enable the computing module 500 to perform featuresor functions of the present invention as discussed herein.

While various embodiments of the present invention have been describedabove, it should be understood that they have been presented by way ofexample only, and not of limitation. Likewise, the various diagrams maydepict an example architectural or other configuration for theinvention, which is done to aid in understanding the features andfunctionality that can be included in the invention. The invention isnot restricted to the illustrated example architectures orconfigurations, but the desired features can be implemented using avariety of alternative architectures and configurations. Indeed, it willbe apparent to one of skill in the art how alternative functional,logical or physical partitioning and configurations can be implementedto implement the desired features of the present invention. Also, amultitude of different constituent module names other than thosedepicted herein can be applied to the various partitions. Additionally,with regard to flow diagrams, operational descriptions and methodclaims, the order in which the steps are presented herein shall notmandate that various embodiments be implemented to perform the recitedfunctionality in the same order unless the context dictates otherwise.

Although the invention is described above in terms of various exemplaryembodiments and implementations, it should be understood that thevarious features, aspects and functionality described in one or more ofthe individual embodiments are not limited in their applicability to theparticular embodiment with which they are described, but instead can beapplied, alone or in various combinations, to one or more of the otherembodiments of the invention, whether or not such embodiments aredescribed and whether or not such features are presented as being a partof a described embodiment. Thus, the breadth and scope of the presentinvention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplaryembodiments.

Terms and phrases used in this document, and variations thereof: unlessotherwise expressly stated, should be construed as open ended as opposedto limiting. As examples of the foregoing: the term “including” shouldbe read as meaning “including, without limitation” or the like; the term“example” is used to provide exemplary instances of the item indiscussion, not an exhaustive or limiting list thereof; the terms “a” or“an” should be read as meaning “at least one,” “one or more” or thelike; and adjectives such as “conventional,” “traditional,” “normal,”“standard,” “known” and terms of similar meaning should not be construedas limiting the item described to a given time period or to an itemavailable as of a given lime, but instead should be read to encompassconventional, traditional, normal, or standard technologies that may beavailable or known now or at any time in the future. Likewise, wherethis document refers to technologies that would be apparent or known toone of ordinary skill in the art, such technologies encompass thoseapparent or known to the skilled artisan now or at any time in thefuture.

The presence of broadening words and phrases such as “one or more,” “atleast,” “but not limited to” or other like phrases in some instancesshall not be read to mean that the narrower case is intended or requiredin instances where such broadening phrases may be absent. The use of theterm “module” does not imply that the components or functionalitydescribed or claimed as part of the module are all configured in acommon package. Indeed, any or all of the various components of amodule, whether control logic or other components, can be combined in asingle package or separately maintained and can further be distributedin multiple groupings or packages or across multiple locations.

Additionally, the various embodiments set forth herein are described interms of exemplary block diagrams, flow charts and other illustrations.As will become apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art afterreading this document, the illustrated embodiments and their variousalternatives can be implemented without confinement to the illustratedexamples. For example, block diagrams and their accompanying descriptionshould not be construed as mandating a particular architecture orconfiguration.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computing system comprising: a client computingdevice comprising a processor coupled to a memory; and one or morecomputing devices external to the client computing device, wherein theone or more computing devices comprises one or more processorscommunicatively coupled to the one or more processors, wherein the oneor more processors is configured to: define a client configurationprofile comprising a storage operation property, wherein the storageoperation property regulates criteria for performing a storage operationon the client computing device, wherein the storage operation propertyis independent of a native client storage operation property existing inthe client computing device; associate the client computing device withthe client configuration profile comprising the storage operationproperty; wherein a data agent executing on the client computing deviceis configured to: determine a conflict between the storage operationproperty in the client configuration profile and the native clientstorage operation property; in response to determining the conflict,select the storage operation property in the client configurationprofile; and perform the storage operation based on the selected storageoperation property in the client configuration profile.
 2. The computingsystem of claim 1 wherein the selection of the storage operationproperty is based on a priority assigned to the storage operationproperty in the client configuration profile and to the native clientstorage operation property in the client computing device.
 3. Thecomputing system of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configuredto: communicate the storage operation property in the clientconfiguration profile to the client computing device for storage in adata structure therein.
 4. The computing system of claim 1 wherein theprocessor is further configured to: update the client configurationprofile associated with the client computing device based on acombination of the storage operation property and the native clientstorage operation property.
 5. The computing system of claim 1 whereinthe processor is further configured to: determine that data has movedfrom the client computing device to another client computing devicedifferent from the client computing device; and transfer the clientconfiguration profile to the another client computing device.
 6. Thecomputing system of claim 1 wherein the storage operation property isapplied to the storage operation according to a data type being operatedupon.
 7. The computing system of claim 6 wherein the data type is basedon one or more of: an operating system type and an application type ofthe client computing device.
 8. The computing system of claim 6 whereinthe data type comprises one or more of Microsoft Exchange data, LotusNotes data, Microsoft Windows file system data, and Microsoft ActiveDirectory data.
 9. The computing system of claim 1 wherein a firststorage operation property of the client computing device comprises acombination of the native client storage operation property and thestorage operation property in the client configuration profile.
 10. Thecomputing system of claim 1 wherein the processor is further configuredto: create a new client configuration profile based on a combination ofthe client configuration profile and the native client storage operationproperty.
 11. A computer-implemented method comprising: by one or morecomputing devices: defining a client configuration profile comprising astorage operation property, wherein the storage operation propertyregulates criteria for performing a storage operation on a clientcomputing device, wherein the storage operation property is independentof a native client storage operation property existing in the one ormore client computing devices; associating the client computing devicewith the client configuration profile comprising the storage operationproperty; determining a conflict between the storage operation propertyin the client configuration profile and the native client storageoperation property; in response to determining the conflict, selectingthe storage operation property in the client configuration profile; andperforming the storage operation based on the selected storage operationproperty in the client configuration profile.
 12. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 11 wherein the selecting of thestorage operation property is based on a priority assigned to thestorage operation property in the client configuration profile and tothe native client storage operation property.
 13. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 11 further comprising:communicating the storage operation property in the client configurationprofile to the client computing device for storage in a data structuretherein.
 14. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 furthercomprising: updating the client configuration profile associated withthe client computing device based on a combination of the storageoperation property and the native client storage operation property. 15.The computer-implemented method of claim 11 further comprising:determining that data has moved from the client computing device toanother client computing device different from the client computingdevice; and transferring the client configuration profile to the anotherclient computing device.
 16. The computer-implemented method of claim 11wherein the storage operation property is applied to the storageoperation according to a data type being operated upon.
 17. Thecomputer-implemented method of claim 16 wherein the data type is basedon one or more of: an operating system type and an application type ofthe client computing device.
 18. The computer-implemented method ofclaim 16 wherein the data type comprises one or more of MicrosoftExchange data, Lotus Notes data, Microsoft Windows file system data, andMicrosoft Active Directory data.
 19. The computer-implemented method ofclaim 11 wherein a first storage operation property of the clientcomputing device comprises a combination of the native client storageoperation property and the storage operation property in the clientconfiguration profile.
 20. The computer-implemented method of claim 11further comprising: creating a new client configuration profile based ona combination of the client configuration profile and the native clientstorage operation property.